A dad-of-three says he’s been left “stressed out” after being wrongly accused of ploughing a car into crowds during Liverpool’s Premier League title celebrations.
Peter Cunningham, from Huyton, has spoken out after his name and photo were widely circulated online in connection with the incident on Water Street, which left at least 79 people injured. Emergency services rushed to the scene after a grey Ford Galaxy mounted the pavement during the victory parade in Liverpool city centre.
The 54-year-old says he wasn’t even at the parade and had nothing to do with the crash. He is now calling on police to help clear his name after waking up to dozens of messages from friends and family who had seen the false claims on social media.
False Claims Go Viral
Cunningham told local reporters he was working at the time of the crash and has no connection whatsoever to the suspect who is currently in custody. A 53-year-old man from the West Derby area has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, dangerous driving, and driving while unfit through drugs.
The crash took place at around 6pm on Monday as thousands gathered in the city to mark Liverpool FC’s 20th league title. Witnesses said the Ford Galaxy appeared to have tailgated behind an ambulance allowed through a roadblock to attend a medical emergency, before accelerating into the crowd.
“I’m stressed out, I don’t need it all,” Cunningham said. “It’s a bad thing that’s happened, and the police need to do something about it. I’m in work right now and the man they arrested is in custody.”
Police Release Major Update Over Suspect After 79 Injured At Liverpool Parade
Panic on the Streets
The crash caused scenes of chaos as dozens of people were hit. Some pedestrians tried to stop the vehicle before it sped up, mowing down fans who had been celebrating with family and friends. One eyewitness said a baby in a pram was dragged 15 feet down the road.
Police have confirmed that 50 people were taken to hospital, with 11 still being treated for injuries. Officers have been scouring CCTV and mobile phone footage in a bid to build a full timeline of events. A mobile police station remains in the area and detectives are urging witnesses to come forward.
Call for Caution Online
Cunningham said he contacted the social media account that first shared his image, and the post has since been taken down. But he’s calling for more to be done to stop innocent people being dragged into the spotlight.
“These YouTubers and people on social media are just sharing it to make money,” he said. “It’s dangerous.”
Police are continuing to question the suspect as part of an extensive investigation. Anyone with information or footage has been urged to contact Merseyside Police.
